District 300 proposes boundary shift from Hampshire to Jacobs; parents urge grandfathering

District 300 staff on Tuesday presented a proposed boundary change that would move some students from Hampshire High School to Jacobs High School to relieve projected capacity shortfalls.

The proposal, delivered by Chief Technology Officer John Hummel, cites rapid housing development in the western portion of the district and demographer projections of roughly 4,166 new students districtwide over the next 10 years, with about 2,500 of those expected on the west side. Hummel said the plan is intended to "maximize building capacity, transportation efficiencies and programmatic efficiencies" and to address the projection that Hampshire High School will run out of space within four years. He told the board the proposal would be brought to a vote at the Oct. 28 board meeting and that staff would contact potentially affected families in the meantime.

Public comment concentrated on keeping cohorts intact and reducing disruption. "All we are asking for is an option for those kids currently attending Hampshire to be able to graduate from there," said Ryan Keller, a Winchester Glen parent, who described his daughter's participation on varsity sports and the social ties that would be broken by an immediate reassignment. Andy Anderson, another Winchester Glen resident, said his son "has thrived" at Hampshire and urged the board to consider the mental‑health impacts of mid‑career moves.

Gilberts parents similarly urged the board not to divide their community. "Our kids start elementary school together, and they're raised up through middle school and through Hampshire," said Sarah Elvin. She and others said splitting a small number of households would be "devastating" to longstanding social and extracurricular ties. Teachers and school psychologists asked the board to consider beginning any changes with incoming kindergarten classes when possible; Derek Raimondi, a school psychologist, cautioned that disrupting relationships with teachers and counselors can harm academic momentum and emotional well‑being.

Hummel said the latest refinement to the proposal attempts to preserve elementary feeder cohorts where feasible and that current 11th graders would be allowed to remain at Hampshire for their senior year; current ninth and tenth graders also will be given options to remain. He also said no final decision was made Tuesday and that staff postponed consideration of a separate Eastview/Algonquin Lakes boundary change based on new information received at the meeting.

The board did not vote on the boundary plan on Oct. 14; Hummel said staff will notify affected families and return the proposal for a formal vote at the Oct. 28 meeting. The district emphasized it will hold community meetings with families if the board approves the proposal.

Clarifying details: The district's September 30 enrollment count was reported as 20,091 (not including Cambridge Lakes enrollment). Staff said the demographers' projections aligned closely with current figures and that most new housing developments are concentrated on the district's west side. Hummel stated that there were "no new developments" within the proposed new boundary lines that would add additional students to Jacobs, and that the move is meant to prepare for developments south of Route 72 if they are built.

What happens next: Staff will reach out to affected families with details and options, and the board scheduled a vote on the proposal for Oct. 28. If approved, some students (current eighth graders in the affected area) would attend Jacobs the next school year; the district said it would work with families on busing and transitions.